Authority and Common Sense

In today’s world, power is often seen as an acceptable substitute for authority. It isn’t.

Power coerces while authority invites. Power intimidates while authority inspires. Power presses in while authority reaches out.

Jesus understood the difference and so did those who heard him. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount:

“… the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7: 28-29)

From a worldly perspective, Jesus had no power and he resisted those who urged him to seek it. But his authority was unmistakable. It flowed from his integrity, his conviction and his connectedness to the mind of God. Most importantly, unlike the religious leaders of his time, it manifested itself not in control but in service.

Like Jesus, the families in the Unbound program have little power, but they have great authority. In their case, it’s the authority of those who’ve suffered and persevered. Because we believe Christ dwells in a profound way among and within them, we pay close attention to what they teach us.

That close attention has paid off in the form of a practical, common-sense program of sponsorship, one based on the simple notion that those with the greatest interest in solving a problem are best equipped to do so. They’ll need some help and encouragement along the way, but what they don’t need is for us to impose a solution from a distance.

That’s how Unbound does it and it works. With all due humility, we can say that with authority.

Please pray with us

Creator God, you are the source and summit of all authority. Everything that is loving, just and wise emanates from you and flows back to you. Help us answer your call to be agents of change in our world and bring your healing love to all we encounter. We ask this in the name of the one who astonished all he met, your Son and our brother, Jesus the Christ.

About Author

Unbound is an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. We build relationships of mutual respect and support that bridge cultural, religious and economic divides. We bring people together to challenge poverty in 18 countries. We invite you to join us. Find us on Facebook or Twitter.